Background: (-)-Fenchone is a naturally occurring monoterpene found in the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Thuja occidentalis L., and Peumus boldus Molina. Pharmacological studies have reported its antinociceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. Methods: The preventive antiulcer effects of (-)-Fenchone were assessed through oral pretreatment in cysteamine-induced duodenal lesion models. Gastric healing, the underlying mechanisms, and toxicity after repeated doses were evaluated using the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer rat model with oral treatment administered for 14 days. Results: In the cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer model, fenchone (37.5–300 mg/kg) significantly decreased the ulcer area and prevented lesion formation. In the acetic acid-induced ulcer model, fenchone (150 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.001) ulcerative injury. These effects were associated with increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Furthermore, treatment with (-)-Fenchone (150 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p < 0.001) malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB). A 14-day oral toxicity investigation revealed no alterations in heart, liver, spleen, or kidney weight, nor in the biochemical and hematological parameters assessed. (-)-Fenchone protected animals from body weight loss while maintaining feed and water intake. Conclusion: (-)-Fenchone exhibits low toxicity, prevents duodenal ulcers, and enhances gastric healing activities. Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties appear to be involved in its therapeutic effects.

Background: (-)-Fenchone is a bicyclic monoterpene present in the plant species Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Thuja occidentalis L. (tuja), and Lavandula stoechas (lavender). These plants have therapeutic value in the treatment of intestinal disorders. Aim: To evaluate intestinal anti-inflammatory activity in an acute and chronic trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model in rats. Methods: Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects were assessed using the acute and chronic TNBS-induced colitis model in rats. The mechanisms were evaluated from colonic tissue fragments of the acute and chronic models. Results: Oral administration of the (-)-fenchone (37.5–300 mg/kg) acute phase or (150 mg/kg) (p < 0.001) chronic phase reduced the macroscopic lesion score, ulcerative area, intestinal weight/length ratio, and diarrheal index in TNBS-treated animals. At a dose of 150 mg/kg, the acute and chronic phase decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (p < 0.001), restored glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.001), decreased immunomarking for factor nuclear kappa B (NF-κB) and levels of interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and maintained IL-10 and TGF-β basal levels. Furthermore, increased immunostaining for zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) was observed. Conclusions: (-)-fenchone has intestinal anti-inflammatory activity related to cytoprotection of the intestinal barrier, as well as antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects.

Background/Objectives: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory disorder affecting patients in intensive care with high mortality. No specific pharmacological treatment is available. Musa paradisiaca L. (banana) is a cosmopolitan plant, and homemade syrup from its inflorescence is used in many countries to treat pulmonary inflammation. Therefore, this study analyzed the hydroalcoholic extract (HEM) of the inflorescence on the ALI experimental model. Methods: Swiss mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide and treated with HEM after 1, 24, and 48 h (five animals/group, three times). Results: The HEM-treated ALI mice presented a decrease in neutrophil migration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), in the alveolar region, and in the blood, correlating to downregulation of CD18 expression. The HEM treatment also reduced the protein concentration in the BALF, caused lung edema formation, impaired NF-κB activation via inhibition of TLR4 signaling pathway, and decreased IL-1β, TNF-α production, free DNA release, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. However, the extract induced an increased IL-10 in the BALF. Conclusions: Therefore, HEM’s anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities in ALI mice are by deactivating neutrophils by decreasing CD18 receptor, free DNA release, and MPO activity and inducing IL-10 production. Thus, this study supports the use of banana inflorescence in folk medicine and suggests its rational use to develop a phytomedicine to treat pulmonary inflammation.